U.S. patent application number 14/083676 was filed with the patent office on 2014-05-22 for power plant, an application of such a power plant and a method of operating such a power plant.
This patent application is currently assigned to EUROCOPTER DEUTSCHLAND GMBH. The applicant listed for this patent is EUROCOPTER DEUTSCHLAND GMBH. Invention is credited to Wolfram Grieser.
Application Number | 20140140871 14/083676 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 47709789 |
Filed Date | 2014-05-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140140871 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Grieser; Wolfram |
May 22, 2014 |
POWER PLANT, AN APPLICATION OF SUCH A POWER PLANT AND A METHOD OF
OPERATING SUCH A POWER PLANT
Abstract
A mobile power plant having an engine together with a main gear
box (5) and a free wheel assembly (4) suitable for driving a rotary
wing (7) by means of the main gear box (5) and further having an
electric motor-generator (10), wherein the power plant includes an
accessory gear box (12), an additional freewheel assembly (11) and
a pump (8), said electric motor-generator (10) being mechanically
connected in series via said additional freewheel assembly (12) to
said main gear box (5) in order to be capable of being driven by
said main gear box (5) and said electric motor-generator (10) being
connected to said pump (8) in order to be capable of driving said
pump (8). The invention relates as well to an application of such a
mobile power plant and to a method of operating the mobile power
plant.
Inventors: |
Grieser; Wolfram;
(Riemerling, DE) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
EUROCOPTER DEUTSCHLAND GMBH |
Donauworth |
|
DE |
|
|
Assignee: |
EUROCOPTER DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
Donauworth
DE
|
Family ID: |
47709789 |
Appl. No.: |
14/083676 |
Filed: |
November 19, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
417/410.1 ;
417/53 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B64C 27/12 20130101;
B64C 39/024 20130101; B64C 27/14 20130101; B64D 33/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
417/410.1 ;
417/53 |
International
Class: |
B64D 33/00 20060101
B64D033/00; B64D 35/08 20060101 B64D035/08 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 22, 2012 |
EP |
12400049.8 |
Claims
1. A mobile power plant having an engine together with a main gear
box and a free wheel assembly suitable for driving a rotary wing by
means of the main gear box and further having an electric
motor-generator, wherein supplemental to the main gear box there is
provided an accessory gear box, an additional freewheel assembly
and a pump, said electric motor-generator being on a first side
mechanically connected in series via said additional freewheel
assembly and said accessory gear box to said main gear box in order
to be capable of being driven by said main gear box and said
electric motor-generator being mechanically connected on a second
side to said pump.
2. The power plant according to claim 1, wherein an electric
engine's starter motor-generator is provided, said electric
engine's starter motor-generator being connected to said
engine.
3. The power plant according to claim 1, wherein said pump is a
hydraulic pump that provides hydraulic pressure to an onboard
hydraulic consumer including an air-con compressor.
4. The power plant according to claim 1, wherein said electric
motor-generator is provided with electric supply lines.
5. The power plant according to claim 1, wherein said pump is
provided with hydraulic supply lines.
6. The power plant according to claim 1, wherein said accessory
gear box is provided with a power outlet, said additional freewheel
assembly and said electric motor-generator being mounted to said
power outlet.
7. The power plant according to claim 1, wherein said engine, the
free wheel assembly and the main gear box are mechanically
connected in series.
8. The power plant according to claim 1, wherein said electric
motor-generator is connected to a battery and/or electric onboard
consumers.
9. An application of the mobile power plant according to claim 1 to
a helicopter.
10. The application according to claim 9, wherein the additional
freewheel assembly and the electric motor generator are installed
in a position of a hydraulic pump removed from an outlet of the
accessory gear box, while the hydraulic pump is shifted and is
reinstalled in an adjacent position allowing connection to the
electric motor generator.
11. The application according to claim 10, wherein the hydraulic
pump and electric motor generator use a common drive shaft to the
accessory gear box.
12. A method of operating onboard a helicopter the mobile power
plant according to claim 1 with the following steps: providing
electric power to said electric motor generator, driving said pump
by means of said electric motor generator, and, driving onboard
hydraulic consumers by means of said pump.
13. The method of operating the power plant according to claim 12,
wherein: the step of providing electric power to said electric
motor generator includes providing the electric power from the
battery and/or an external electric (ground) supply.
14. The method of operating the power plant according to claim 12,
wherein: the step of driving said pump by means of said electric
motor generator is achieved by means of driving said auto-rotating
rotary wing via said main gear box.
15. The method of operating the power plant according to claim 14,
wherein: the step of providing electric power is achieved by
providing the electric power from said electric motor generator to
the battery and/or one or more electric onboard consumers.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority to European patent
application No. EP 12 400049.8 filed Nov. 22, 2012, the disclosure
of which is incorporated in its entirety by reference herein.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] (1) Field of the Invention
[0003] The invention relates to a mobile power plant with the
features of the preamble of claim 1, the application of such a
mobile power plant with the features of the preamble of claim 9 and
a method of operating the mobile power plant with the features of
the preamble of claim 12. The invention lies in the technical field
of mobile power plants of helicopters.
[0004] (2) Description of Related Art
[0005] A helicopter is conventionally provided with a rotary wing
for providing it with lift and propulsion and with an anti-torque
tail rotor for countering the torque exerted by the rotary wing on
the fuselage of the helicopter. Furthermore, a helicopter features
energy supply systems, e.g., electric, hydraulic, compressors for
air-con systems, driven by a drive system of the helicopter. Some
of said energy supply systems, e.g., hydraulics, are required to be
driven by a rotor drive system to keep them operational also in
case of loss of all engines/autorotation, see FAR and CS 27/29.691
and 695. At least bigger helicopters are required by FAR and CS
29,671c to have means to check full availability of the flight
controls in their entire range prior to take-off. The transfer of
the mechanical rotational power from the engine to the drive system
e.g., a main gear box (MGB)--is done via a free wheel mechanism.
This allows free rotation of the drive system and rotor, e.g., for
autorotation, should the engine fail, see FAR and CS 27/29.691 and
695.
[0006] In order to drive the rotary wing, and where appropriate the
anti-torque rotor, the helicopter has a power plant.
[0007] The power plant implements one or more engines. It should be
understood that throughout this specification, the term "engine"
applies equally well to turbine engines or to piston engines. The
term "engine" is to be contrasted with the term "electric motor",
where the term "electric motor" designates a motor driven by
electricity, preferably a so-called "brushless" motor for
example.
[0008] The document US 2011/121127 A1 discloses a power plant
having a single engine together with both a main gear box (MGB)
suitable for driving the rotary wing of a helicopter and a tail
gear box (TGB) suitable for driving an anti-torque rotor of a
helicopter. The power plant also includes a first electric motor
mechanically connected to said MGB in order to be capable of
driving said MGB, and a second electric motor mechanically
connected to said TGB in order to be capable of driving said tail
gear box.
[0009] An object of the present invention is to propose a mobile
power plant for the demand for further electrical/hydraulical
energy--at least for specific elements/parts. It is a further
object of the present invention to propose an application of said
mobile power plant for the demand for further electrical energy
during the production life of helicopters at least for specific
elements/parts of a flight mission. It is a still further object of
the present invention to propose a method of operating the mobile
power plant with or without engine.
[0010] A solution is provided with a mobile power plant with the
features of claim 1 of the invention. A further solution for an
application of said mobile power plant is provided with the
features of claim 9 of the invention. A still further solution for
a method of operating said mobile power plant is provided with the
features of claim 12 of the invention.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] According to the invention a mobile power plant has an
engine together with a main gear box and a free wheel assembly
suitable for driving a rotary wing by means of the main gear box.
The power plant further has an electric motor-generator.
[0012] The main gear box includes an accessory gear box, an
additional freewheel assembly and a pump as specific
elements/parts, said electric motor-generator being mechanically
connected in series via said additional freewheel assembly to said
main gear box. Said electric motor-generator is driven by said main
gear box and said electric motor-generator is connected to said
pump in order to drive said pump.
[0013] The inventive mobile power plant provides advantages in
terms of weight, costs, volume and the inventive mobile power plant
provides for other than electric on-board energy. The same energy
supply source of the inventive power plant can be driven by the
accessory gear box of the inventive power plant during flight and
by the electric motor on ground.
[0014] The dual use of the electric motor on ground, used also as
an additional generator during flight is a further
redundancy/diversification of the electric system of the inventive
power plant. The inventive power plant allows transfer of ground
power to the electric motor-generator and consequently to onboard
energy consumers even if the rotor is not turning thus allowing the
use of electrical ground power, e. g. for maintenance, ground and
pre-flight test purpose and as well for engine start.
[0015] Correspondingly hydraulic power might be supplied via ground
power for direct supply of onboard hydraulic consumers. For bigger
helicopters, i.e., helicopters with more than 3 tons, the inventive
power plant improves on-board independent power sources, e.g.,
electric, hydraulic, pneumatic, air-con, for ground operation.
[0016] For said bigger helicopters the inventive power plant
further allows use of an electric motor pump/auxiliary pressure
supply to pressurise at least one hydraulic circuit to support
pre-flight test of the flight controls.
[0017] For smaller helicopters, i.e., helicopters with less than 3
tons, the inventive power plant allows on-board use of any
electrical engine starter motor(s) as generators as long as the
engine(s) are operative by using the battery(s), which are used for
engine start up as emergency power source in case of loss of all
engines/autorotation.
[0018] The inventive power plant features an auxiliary power unit
for electrical ground power, if available, for pre-flight test and
engine start or in cases where ground power is not available, an
on-board battery of the inventive power plant is used for
pre-flight test and engine start.
[0019] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention an
electric engine's starter motor-generator is provided, said
electric engine's starter motor-generator being connected to said
engine.
[0020] According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention
said pump is a hydraulic pump, air-conditioning (air-con)
compressor, etc.. The hydraulic pump of the inventive power plant
allows use as a ground/pre-flight test pump or as emergency back-up
pump. The hydraulic pumps, air-con systems coupled to the accessory
gear box allow operation while the rotary wing is not turning.
[0021] According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention
said electric motor-generator is provided with electric supply
lines for collecting electric power from a ground supply or
delivering electric power to electric consumers onboard the
helicopter.
[0022] According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention
said pump is provided with hydraulic supply lines for delivering
hydraulic power to hydraulic consumers onboard the helicopter. Said
hydraulic power is provided in support of the electric
motor-generator.
[0023] According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention
said accessory gear box is provided with a power outlet, said
additional freewheel assembly and said electric motor-generator
being mounted to said power outlet. The inventive power plant
provides for a `reserve` drive outlet allowing in case of a later
demand--after an original development--on-board energy, e.g.,
introduction of an air-con.
[0024] According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention
said engine, the free wheel assembly and the main gear box are
mechanically connected in series.
[0025] According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention
said electric motor-generator is connected to a battery and/or
electric onboard consumers.
[0026] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention the
inventive mobile power plant is applied to a helicopter.
[0027] In addition to providing a mobile power plant, the invention
also provides a helicopter provided both with a rotary wing and
with an anti-torque rotor, and also with a power plant, the power
plant being provided with a main gear box driving the rotary wing
and a tail gear box driving the anti-torque rotor.
[0028] According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention
the additional freewheel assembly and the electric motor generator
are installed in a position of a hydraulic pump removed from an
outlet of the accessory gear box. The hydraulic pump is shifted as
much as needed and is reinstalled in an adjacent position allowing
connection to the electric motor generator. Hydraulic pump and
electric motor generator use a common mechanical accessory gear box
drive.
[0029] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention a
method of operating the inventive mobile power plant comprises the
following steps:--providing a battery and/or external electric
(ground) supply,--supplying electric power from said battery and/or
external electric (ground) supply to said electric motor
generator,--driving said pump by means of said electric motor
generator, and--driving onboard hydraulic consumers by means of
said pump.
[0030] According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention
a method of operating the inventive mobile power plant comprises
the following steps:--driving the rotary wing, said electric motor
generator and said pump by means of said main gear box,--supplying
electric power from said driven electric motor generator to the
battery and/or electric onboard consumers, and--driving onboard
hydraulic consumers by means of said pump.
[0031] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention a
method of operating the inventive mobile power plant comprises the
following steps:--driving said electric motor generator and said
pump by means of said autorotating rotary wing via said main gear
box, accessory gear box and additional freewheel
assembly,--supplying preferably electric power from said driven
electric motor generator to the battery and/or electric onboard
consumers, and--supplying hydraulic power from said driven pump to
onboard hydraulic consumers.
[0032] A method of operating the inventive mobile power plant
comprises the following steps:--providing a hydraulic ground
supply, and supplying hydraulic power from said hydraulic ground
supply to onboard hydraulic consumers.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0033] The invention and its advantages appear in greater detail
from the following description of embodiments given by way of
illustration and with reference to the accompanying figures, in
which:
[0034] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a power plant in a first
operating mode according to the invention,
[0035] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the power plant in a second
operating mode according to the invention,
[0036] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the power plant in a third
operating mode according to the invention, and
[0037] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the power plant in a fourth
operating mode.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0038] According to FIG. 1 a mobile power plant of a helicopter
(not shown) is provided with an engine 1. Said engine 1 is
connected to an electric engine's starter motor/generator 2. The
engine 1 is connected in series via an axle 3 and a free-wheel
assembly 4 to a main gear box 5. The main gear box 5 drives a
rotary wing 7 at its output 6. During ground and pre-flight test
operation the electric engine's starter motor/generator 2 is
supplied by electric (ground) power or a battery (not shown).
During ground and pre-flight test operation the electric engine's
starter motor/generator 2 is operated as an electric motor.
[0039] At a further output of the main gear box 5 is provided
respectively in series an accessory gear box 12, an additional
freewheel assembly 11, an electric motor-generator 10 and a pump 8,
e. g. a hydraulic pump. Said pump 8 provides hydraulic pressure to
onboard hydraulic consumers 13, such as an air-con compressor,
towards one side said electric motor-generator 10 is mechanically
connected by means of a drive shaft 9 via said additional freewheel
assembly 11 to said main gear box 5. Towards another side said
electric motor-generator 7 is connected by means of said drive
shaft 9 to said pump 8 for driving said pump 8. The capability of
the electric motor-generator 10 is restricted from 10% to 90% of
the power transmittable by the additional freewheel assembly 11 in
order to keep restricted the volume of the electric motor-generator
10.
[0040] The electric engine's starter motor/generator 2 and the
electric motor-generator 10 are part of into an electric grid (not
shown) with electric consumers, such as the battery, onboard the
helicopter.
[0041] An external hydraulic (ground) power 14 is connected to the
onboard hydraulic consumers 13 parallel to the pump 8 for supply in
support of the electric motor-generator 10 (s. FIG. 4).
Method of Operating the Power Plant
[0042] On ground and during pre-flight test operation of the
helicopter the engine 1, the main gear box 5 and the rotary wing 7
are stopped. The electric motor-generator 10 is supplied by
external electric (ground) power or by battery to drive the
electric motor-generator 10 and the pump 8 via the drive shaft 9.
During ground and pre-flight test operation the electric
motor-generator 10 is operated as a motor driving the pump 8. Said
pump 8 provides hydraulic pressure to said onboard hydraulic
consumers 13. While the electric motor-generator 10 is driven by
the external electric (ground) power or by battery, the drive shaft
9 is separated from the accessory gear box 12 and the main gear box
5 by the freewheel 11 and consequently the main rotor 7 is not
driven.
[0043] According to FIG. 2 during flight operation of the
helicopter the running engine 1 drives the electric motor-generator
10 as an electric generator via the main gear box 5, the accessory
gear box 12 and the additional freewheel assembly 11, respectively
connected by the axle 3. The rotary wing 7 is driven via the main
gear box 5 and the output 6. The main gear box 5 and the electric
motor-generator 10 drive as well directly and mechanically the pump
8 coupled via the drive shaft 9. During flight operation the driven
electric motor-generator 10 feeds any electric on board consumers,
e. g. the battery, while the driven pump 8 provides energy to its
respective hydraulic consumers 13, e. g. an air con-compressor. The
electric engine's starter motor/generator 2 is driven by the engine
1 and feeds the helicopter's electric on board consumers.
[0044] The electric motor-generator 10 is provided with a control
for electrical balance with the electric engine's starter
motor/generator 2 and for separation from the onboard electric
grid.
[0045] According to FIG. 3 during flight, autorotation operation of
the helicopter with a non-operating engine 1--due to a technical
problem--the rotary wing 7 drives the electric motor-generator 10
as an electric generator via the main gear box 5, the accessory
gear box 12 and the additional freewheel assembly 11, respectively
connected by the axle 3. The rotary wing 7 is driven by the
airstream while the helicopter is descending. The electric
motor-generator 10 drives as well directly and mechanically the
pump 8 coupled via the drive shaft 9. During autorotation operation
the driven electric motor-generator 10 feeds any electric on board
consumers, e. g. the battery, while the driven pump 8 provides
energy to its respective hydraulic consumers 13, e. g. an air
con-compressor.
[0046] According to FIG. 4, alternatively, on ground and during
pre-flight test operation with stalled engine 1, stalled main gear
box 5 and stalled rotary wing 7 of the helicopter, the onboard
hydraulic consumers 13 are supplied directly by external hydraulic
(ground) power 14 to provide hydraulic pressure to said onboard
hydraulic consumers 13.
Application of the Power Plant
[0047] For an existing helicopter with a hydraulic pump at the
power outlet (not shown) of the accessory gear box 12, said
hydraulic pump is to be removed from the power outlet. An
additional freewheel assembly 12 and an electric motor generator 10
are installed in the hydraulic pump's former position. The
hydraulic pump is to be shifted as much as needed and is to be
reinstalled in an adjacent position allowing connection to the
electric motor generator 10. Hydraulic pump and electric motor
generator use a common mechanical drive of the accessory gear box
12.
LIST OF REFERENCES
[0048] 1 engine
[0049] 2 electric engine's starter motor/generator
[0050] 3 axle
[0051] 4 free-wheel assembly
[0052] 5 main gear box
[0053] 6 output
[0054] 7 rotary wing
[0055] 8 pump
[0056] 9 drive shaft
[0057] 10 electric motor generator
[0058] 11 additional freewheel assembly
[0059] 12 accessory gear box
[0060] 13 onboard hydraulic consumer
[0061] 14 external hydraulic (ground) power
* * * * *